Animal Messenger
Level 2 · Enchantment
- Ritual
- Save
Animal Messenger (bard, druid, and ranger) casts from a 2nd-level slot in the enchantment school. Cast time: Action. Range 30 feet, components V/S/M, duration 24 hours. Material: a morsel of food. Marked ritual. Effect: A Tiny Beast of your choice that you can see within range must succeed on a Charisma saving throw, or it attempts to deliver a message for you (if the target's Challenge Rating isn't 0, it automatically succeeds). At higher levels: The spell's duration increases by 48 hours for each spell slot level above 2.
Stat Block
- Level
- 2
- School
- Enchantment
- Casting Time
- Action
- Range / Area
- 30 feet
- Components
- V, S, M
- Duration
- 24 Hours
- Ritual
- Yes
- Concentration
- No
- Classes
- Bard, Druid, Ranger
- Material
- a morsel of food
Description
A Tiny Beast of your choice that you can see within range must succeed on a Charisma saving throw, or it attempts to deliver a message for you (if the target's Challenge Rating isn't 0, it automatically succeeds). You specify a location you have visited and a recipient who matches a general description, such as "a person dressed in the uniform of the town guard" or "a red-haired dwarf wearing a pointed hat." You also communicate a message of up to twenty-five words. The Beast travels for the duration toward the specified location, covering about 25 miles per 24 hours or 50 miles if the Beast can fly. When the Beast arrives, it delivers your message to the creature that you described, mimicking your communication. If the Beast doesn't reach its destination before the spell ends, the message is lost, and the Beast returns to where you cast the spell.
5e (2014) vs 2024 changes
This spell has both a 5e (2014) and 2024 Player's Handbook version. Doungim shows the current 2024 stat block above. Differences between editions typically affect components, range, or scaling — check both source books for the table.
Doungim Lore
School Fit
Enchantments are the spells of social combat. They make allies of enemies and obedient pawns of independent creatures. The school tag on Animal Messenger is earned by the target it actually affects — the spell rewrites a sentient creature's intent or perception. At level 2, daily slot counts allow Animal Messenger to be cast multiple times across the adventuring day.
Class Fit
- Bard: Bards rely on Bardic Inspiration for most action-economy boosts; Animal Messenger matters when Inspiration isn't the right tool for the moment. Animal Messenger reaches 30 feet, which lets the caster stay clear of the front line.
- Druid: Druids prepare Animal Messenger from the full list each day, but the Wild Shape economy means prep cycles look different from a Cleric's. Animal Messenger scales when upcast — see the higher-level note on the spell page.
- Ranger: Wisdom is the Ranger's casting stat. Animal Messenger casts at the build's normal spell-save DC, which is competitive but not the focus of most Ranger builds. At higher spell-slot levels Animal Messenger grows — refer to the upcast clause for the exact terms.
Related Spells
Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Messenger
- What level spell is Animal Messenger?
- The spell Animal Messenger is a level 2 spell in the Enchantment school. Bard, Druid, Ranger all have access to it.
- What save does Animal Messenger require?
- The save against Animal Messenger is a Charisma saving throw. Specific rules for a successful save are spelled out in the spell description.
- What is the range of Animal Messenger?
- The range on Animal Messenger is 30 feet — far enough that most casters can stay clear of the front line.
- How long does Animal Messenger last?
- Animal Messenger sticks for 24 hours. Concentration is not required, so the caster's concentration slot stays free.
- What components and casting time does Animal Messenger need?
- To cast: Animal Messenger is cast with V, S, M. Additionally, Material component: a morsel of food; Animal Messenger can be cast as a ritual: an extra 10 minutes of casting time, no spell slot consumed.
- Can Animal Messenger be upcast?
- Upcasting Animal Messenger works as follows: The spell's duration increases by 48 hours for each spell slot level above 2.